Ride Revelstoke, Red Mountain, Whitewater, Panorama, Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Mt Norquay
Join Mint Tours on the ultimate 12 day Canada Road trip along British Columbia’s famous Powder Highway. We kick off the tour in Calgary and finish in Kelowna. Along the way you’ll get to ride at Revelstoke, Red Mountain, Whitewater, Panorama, Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Norquay. Your Mint guide will get you involved in the local scene – check out a hockey game and try curling, relax at the hot springs, drink at craft breweries and hang out at local snowboard shops. This tour is hosted by our local Canadian guide who grew up shredding all over British Columbia and Alberta and they can’t wait to show you some of their ‘local’s only’ secret spots. Throughout the tour, you’ll stay in modern and comfortable hotels and travel in our van that’s kitted out for long road trips. With the Mint crew leading the way, all you have to do is show up and ride, we’ll take care of the rest.
From Calgary Airport we drive west along the Trans-Canada Highway to the iconic town of Banff. This place is Pure Canada, with snow-covered summits that stretch as far as the eye can see. You’ll get to ride 3 world-class resorts – Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Norquay – while staying in the heart of town with all the restaurants, bars and nightlife on your doorstep. From Banff, we head south-east along the famous Powder Highway towards Panorama. The terrain here ranges from perfect corduroy groomers to ‘backcountry style’ runs in Taynton Bowl, which is 750 acres of patrolled, ex-heliski terrain. We then drive south-west to the town of Nelson.This is always our favourite stop on tour for its cool mountain town vibe and deep powder. Here you’ll get to ride at the legendary Whitewater and Red Mountain resorts where it’s hard to describe the authenticity and abundance of snow. The tour then heads north along Arrow Lake where we make a stop off at Halcyon Hot Springs before we take the car ferry from Galena across to Shelter Bay and then on to Revelstoke. We spend the 3 nights and 2 days riding in Revy which is barely enough time to scratch the surface as it has the most vertical in North America, four high-alpine bowls and 13 gladed areas. The tour finishes in Kelowna.
Dates
13 - 24 March, 2024
Duration
12 Days I 7 Resorts I 8 Days on-mountain
Price
CAD 3,950
Tour Type
Freeride - Powder and in the trees
Why Travel With Mint
In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. We are a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conduct business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we are able to take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre or post tour arrangements.
CANADA POWDER HIGHWAY TOUR
Get in touch for a detailed tour itinerary and more info
ABOUT REVELSTOKE
Revelstoke is a Mint Tours favourite and has always been one of the stops on our Canada tours. A big mountain playground located in the heart of the Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges. The resort rivals anywhere for terrain and snow and is a hotspot for some of the worlds best riders and film crews. The resort is mammoth, so you'll need two full days to explore here.
ABOUT RED MOUNTAIN
Red offers steeps, open trees, powder meadows and groomers on 360-degrees of exposure, so you’ll be able to find good snow regardless of the time of year. One of the main reasons to ride at Red is the backcountry access. The resort operates 16 square kilometres of touring-accessed, uncontrolled backcountry.
ABOUT NELSON AND WHITEWATER
The Kootenay township of Nelson is famous for community spirit, independent stores, bars and coffee. Whitewater ski area boasts everything from open bowls and steep tree runs. Our guides know this place better than most. In Nelson we also check out Ainsworth Hot Springs, local snowboard store Tribute and the famous Oso Negro Cafe.
ABOUT BANFF - SUNSHINE VILLAGE
Sunshine Village sits high on the Continental Divide in the heart of Banff National Park. Three sprawling mountains provide breathtaking views, uninterrupted by any signs of civilisation beyond the resort’s boundaries. Sunshine has the longest non-glacial ski season in Canada and can receive up to nine metres of light and dry snow thanks to the elevation.
ABOUT BANFF - LAKE LOUISE
Known for it’s spectacular scenery and variety of terrain from gentle slopes and long cruising runs, to glades, chutes and some of the Canadian Rockies most exciting and wide open bowls. When visiting Lake Louise Ski Resort, be sure to take your camera! The spectacular views of mountains, glaciers, lakes and forests are truly unique and befitting of Canada’s first National Park.
ABOUT BANFF - NORQUAY
Norquay continues to be the locals’ gem. Just minutes from the Town of Banff, this is the best-kept secret in the Canadian Rockies! If it’s a powder day, we’ll head for the Norquay Glades, off the Mystic Chair for perfectly spaced trees stacked with fresh snow. Or we’ll head to the North American Chair, renowned for its steep slope, this chairlift offers unlimited line choices and unmatched face-shot potential.
ABOUT PANORAMA
Panorama is one of those hidden-in-plain-sight gems. It’s been a stop on our road trips for the past 10 years for a very good reason. The terrain ranges from perfect corduroy groomers to ‘backcountry style’ runs in Taynton Bowl, which is 750 acres of patrolled, ex-heliski terrain. You can expect to find pockets of powder, long after a storm has passed. Taynton Bowl offers perfectly spaced trees, long runs and endless lines all to yourself.
PREMIUM ACCOMMODATION
Throughout the tour you'll stay in comfortable accommodation that's in the best location. All rooms are twin share with two Queen beds and have modern facilities.
SMALL GROUPS
We offer one of the smallest client to guide ratio’s in the industry which ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. With just 8 people on this tour, our small groups allow greater manoeuvrability and ease of access to the best areas a destination can offer.
PRE-TOUR SUPPORT
After you sign up for a tour, you will receive pre-trip emails with specific information about your tour, the arrival and departure day process, information about the destination, packing suggestions, and other relevant information to help you prepare for your trip. In addition to this, you have access to our customer care team who are just a phone-call away. And as a full-service travel agent, we are able to take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre or post tour arrangements.
ESSENTIAL INFO
YOUR TOUR INCLUDES
- 3 nights accommodation, Banff (twin share)
- 2 nights accommodation, Radium Hot Springs (twin share)
- 3 nights accommodation, Nelson (twin share)
- 3 nights accommodation, Revelstoke (twin share)
- Scheduled airport transfers (arrival & departure day)
- Private inter-resort transfers
- 1 guided day at Lake Louise
- 1 guided day at Sunshine Village
- 1 guided day at Mt Norquay
- 1 guided day at Panorama
- 1 guided day at RED Mountain
- 1 guided day at Whitewater
- 2 guided days at Revelstoke
- Tips and tricks from our qualified guide and coach
- Fully escorted tour, local guide on-hand throughout tour
DATES 13 – 24 March, 2024
Our Powder Highway Roadtrip is 12 days long. You’ll ride most of the resorts mid-week to maximise your time on-snow and avoid the weekend day-trippers.
WHY TRAVEL WITH MINT?
In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. Mint is a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conducts business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we can take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre-or post tour arrangements.
WHAT IS A FREERIDE TOUR?
Our Freeride Tours offer you the best chance to ride powder, plus on this tour you’ll get to experience a variety of different ski areas in the one trip. Our experienced guides have an in-depth knowledge of the resorts we visit, which gives you the ultimate advantage when your chasing deep, un-tracked snow. We’ll aim to ride and ski a lot of powder, glades and trees so please be prepared to ride and ski in the trees for multiple days straight. Of course weather and conditions are impossible to predict so guests must be prepared to ride or ski anything.
WHAT HAPPENS ON ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DAY?
Once you’ve signed up for the tour we will send you through a comprehensive guide with details about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, a map of where we meet, recommended arrival and departure times, flight options, Visa requirements and transportation information.
WHAT IF I’M TRAVELLING SOLO?
About 99% of our guests are travelling solo, so you’ll be in good company. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snow sports and an eagerness to explore all that Canada has to offer. If you are travelling solo, you will be paired with another guest to room with. The accommodation for this tour is twin share i.e. 2 beds per room.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THIS TOUR?
We have a maximum of 8 people on this tour. This ensures you get the most out of your time with us, and keeping the groups small means less time waiting and more time riding powder.
IS THIS TOUR RIGHT FOR ME?
This tour is best suited to skiers and snowboarders who can link turns in powder snow, can make a variety of turn shapes and can traverse and hold speed. If you’re not sure, give us a call. Weather and ski conditions are impossible to predict so guests must be prepared to ride or ski anything. If you have never ridden in powder or shy away from it at your local resort, this is not the tour to learn. Canadian terrain has lots of glades and trees – please be prepared to ride and ski in the trees.
WHICH RESORTS WILL WE VISIT?
On this tour you will ride at Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, Mt Norquay, Panorama, Red Mountain, Whitewater and Revelstoke.
CAN I ARRIVE EARLY OR STAY ON AFTER THE TOUR?
For most tours you can arrive earlier or stay later. We can tailor the trip to suit your travel plans. Speak with one of our tour specialists when you are booking and they will be more than happy to assist.
ARE FLIGHTS INCLUDED?
No, flights are not included. If you need assistance booking flights, we can book you the best flight options for the tour, with no booking fees.
DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?
Yes. All guests on tour need to be covered by comprehensive travel insurance. Once you have booked on the tour, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance. We offer all of our tour guests discounted snow specific travel insurance.
WHAT HAPPENS ONCE I’VE BOOKED?
Once you’ve booked your spot on tour, we will send you through a booking confirmation and provide updates about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, a map of where we meet, recommended arrival and departure times, flight options, Visa requirements and transportation information. We will send out a Pre Departure Guide 30 days prior to departure. Prior to the tour commencing we will invite you to a group chat which is managed by your tour manager and guides.
CAN I BRING MY PARTNER WHO DOESN’T SKI OR SNOWBOARD?
The Canada Powder Highway Tour is not recommended for non-ski or snowboard partners.
HOW DO I CHECK MY ABILITY LEVEL?
The best way to check if a tour is suited to your ability is by speaking with one of our tour specialists. They will be able to determine if the tour you have selected is a good fit for your ability, as well as suggesting other tour options.
HOW DO I GET TO CALGARY?
We’ll provide you with airport meet and greet times for Calgary and recommended departure times for Kelowna Airport. If it’s your fist time to Canada or if you’re unsure about travel arrangements, often we can link you up with other tour guests to travel with.
HOW DO I CHECK AVAILABILITY?
Speak with one of our tour specialists. As this is a small group tour with limited availability, it’s best to get in touch early to avoid disappointment.
DO YOU TAKE SKIERS & SNOWBOARDERS?
Yes. We are ski and snowboard friendly. Please note that the majority of our tours are led by snowboard guides.
CAN I RENT EQUIPMENT?
We recommend that all guests bring their own equipment for this tour.
WHAT EQUIPMENT SHOULD I BRING?
Canada can be a cold place in winter, with temperatures typically ranging from 0 to -10. We strongly recommend that guests dress in clothing specific for traveling in backcountry areas. We recommend that guests have a good quality waterproof jacket and pants, lightweight insulated layer, merino base layers, merino gloves and waterproof gloves, goggles with low light & high light lenses, sunglasses, balaclava, beanie, and helmet. We recommend that all guests bring their own ski or snowboarding equipment for the tour.
WHO WILL BE ON MY TOUR?
Your group will be made up of travellers from diverse backgrounds and will be varied in age. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snow sports and an eagerness to explore all that the tour has to offer.
ARE LIFT TICKETS INCLUDED?
No, lift tickets are not included. Lift tickets can be purchased on the day at the resort. If you have an Ikon Pass, this can be used at Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, Mt Norquay, Panorama, Red Mountain and Revelstoke.
PRICE PER PERSON
CAD 3,950
Pricing is in Canadian Dollars and based on twin share accommodation.
If you would like some more information or a quote for the tour you can contact us by:
1. ONLINE
Enquire below. Once we receive your request one of our Canadian Tour Specialists will be in touch with a with a quote, availability and further details about the tour.
2. OVER THE PHONE
Call us and follow the prompts to speak to one of our Canadian Tour Specialists.
Within Australia (03) 5296 0314
International +61 (03) 5296 0314